1. (n.) One who founds, establishes, and erects; one who lays a foundation; an author; one from whom anything originates; one who endows.

2. (n.) One who founds; one who casts metals in various forms; a caster; as, a founder of cannon, bells, hardware, or types.

3. (v. i.) To become filled with water, and sink, as a ship.

4. (v. i.) To fall; to stumble and go lame, as a horse.

5. (v. i.) To fail; to miscarry.

6. (v. t.) To cause internal inflammation and soreness in the feet or limbs of (a horse), so as to disable or lame him.

7. (n.) A lameness in the foot of a horse, occasioned by inflammation; closh.

8. (n.) An inflammatory fever of the body, or acute rheumatism; as, chest founder. See Chest founder.